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The Carolina Hurricanes (93 points) and Pittsburgh Penguins (92 points) are separated by one point in the playoff standings and tonight is a crucial game for both teams fighting for playoff positioning. Carolina is on a seven game winning streak and have won 10 straight home games.

Tonight’s game is between the conference’s hottest teams as the Hurricanes are 11-2-1 in their last 14 games, and the Penguins are 13-2-1 in their last 16 games.

Following the Penguins morning skate, Sidney Crosby talked about how the teams focus is on the winning and how he expects a physical game while Jordan Staal discussed the Penguins chances of reaching the Finals again.

Read more for the latest pregame report

Sidney Crosby on tonight’s matchup

“It should definitely be a skating game. Both teams like to get up the ice pretty quickly and spend as less time in their own zone as possible. That’s fun hockey. It’s physical, it’s quick and it’s fun hockey.”

Crosby and the Penguins looked very focused in today’s morning skate. They went through a 40 minute workout and as always ended with the team working on the power play.

Since the additions of Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin, Crosby seems much more relaxed around the locker room. He was really frustrated at mid-season as he puts a ton of pressure on himself.

Staal has sights on long playoff run

Jordan Staal was hounded with questions about playing against his brother from the Carolina media but he was asking an interesting question about whether there is a similar feeling in the locker room that the Penguins had last spring when they went to the Stanley Cup finals.

“Much the same,” Jordan said. “I think everyone has that feeling if we keep going this way and make the playoffs, we have a great chance to go far again. “I’m sure every team that makes the playoffs feels the same way, so that’s what is so exciting about it.”

Home Ice Advantage?

The Hurricanes come into tonight’s game on a 10 game home winning streak and are 24-13-1 at home on the season. The Hurricanes are expecting a sold out crowd and there is already fans outside tailgating on a beautiful sunny 70 degree day. The fans are excited about tonight’s matchup and the building will have a playoff atmosphere.

Lineup News

Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin

Cooke – Malkin – Sykora

Fedotenko – Staal – Kennedy

Dupuis – Talbot – Adams

Defensemen

Orpik – Gonchar

Gill – Scuderi

Eaton – Letang

Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal

Notes: The Penguins will go with the same lineup that they used on Wednesday. Scratches will be Philippe Boucher and Eric Godard.

Ruslan Fedotenko skated for the second consecutive day and his shoulder injury is something he will be able to play with. Still has some discomfort but he’s fine.

Sykora slumping:

Winger Petr Sykora has 0 points in 6 games and has only four points in his last 21 games.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.